San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-03-17
NO.. IS.
From Oregon.
The DALLEs, Feb. 23, 1887.

The DALLEs, Feb. %, 1887.
Ed. FREE PnEss:-I will finish my
description Of Gillian county. Oregon.
On our eastward journey We follow
the edge Of the pine timber, being
at the foot of the west spur OF the
Blue Mountains. Travelling over q
broken country to the north all is
open and clear as far as the can
reach; to the south you see nothing
but timbered mountains and occa-
sionally small farm in an open prairie
in the timber. Sixteen miles brings
us to Lost Valley, thriving little
settlement. The valley is situated
at the timber line, on the south is the
mountains on the north range of
high hills covered with bunch gEass.
The valley is 4 miles long and mile
wide, being very rich bottom land.
A postoffice is here. Six miles farth-
er we come to Lone Rock, here is o
valley 10 miles long and from 2 to 4
miles wide. Commencing at the
timber line and running due north
and is on one fork of Rock Greek,
and contains 80 families, it being the
oldest settlement in Gillian county,
and in the middle of the valley stands
rock 100 feet square and 80 feet
high, it being on the level bottom
and no other rocks or bluffs within 2
miles, from this it derived its name,
Lone Rock. Within 80 rods Of the
rock is the town by the same name.
containing l store, hotel, ! livery
stable and l saloon, also large hall
used for dancing and skating. also
large school house and about IL
residences, this comprises the town.
This valley is engaged exclusively in
raising stock and has we'll to do
class of people throughout. Ten
miles more brings us to the main fork
OF Rock Creek, which is settled with
stock ranches, and the next ten miles
brings us to Hardman, n thriving lit
tie town in q fine farming district,
and contains 2 Wholesale and retail
stores, 2 hotels, 2 blacksmith shops
and l wagon shop. l drug store and
| saloon, and is on the road from
Arlington to Susanville and Long
Creek and 2 miles from east line Of
Gillian, being the line between Gill
liam and Morrow. From Hardman
north is one continuous rolling bunch
grass plain to the Columbia river, 80
miles. There are only two postoffices
on the way to Arlington. Eight
miles from Hardman is Eight Milo
postoflice, and ten miles farther on is
Gooseberry postoffice. Arlington is
place of 900 inhabitants, and has
the most business for the number OF
population of any town on the Pa
cific coast, as it is on the Oregon
Railway and Navigation Companys
line and receives and forwards all
the freight for Gillian, Morrow and q
large potion of Grant counties, be-
sides Klichitat county, w. T., which
receives most of her freight there
and ships her wool from Arlington,
the Columbia river being the line at
this point. Gillian county has ST.
400, 900 taxable property, is not in
debt, and only has 16 mills tax this
year, beng state, county and school
tax.
This is healthy country and
plenty of room for every one, and
any man can do well if he has enough
to get team and wagon, build o
house and live on till lie has time to
raise one crop, but it is foolish for
people to expect to start on farm
without some capital. With from
$1,000 to $20O0a man can make q
success of farming here. Morrow
and Umstella counties, also q large
portion of Wasco county are fine
farming country; farmers are thriv-
ing, building better houses and barns
every year and setting out orchards,
for Oregon cannot be beat for rails
ing apples, pears and plums and all
kinds of small fruit. Potatoes grow
better here than any place in Ameri-
ca. The only draw back is wood. but
it is not half as hard to get as one
might think, as it is always down hill
to haul it from the mountains, or
you can get coal from the railroad
stations. Settler.